U.S. Department of Health & Human Services |
|
Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America |
Font Size Print Download Reader
This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated. News Release
HHS AWARDS $26.6 MILLION IN NEW PROGRAM TO PROVIDE BIOTERRORISM TRAINING AND CURRICULUMHHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced $26.6 million in new grants to strengthen bioterrorism training and education for the nation's health professions workforce. The grants are the first in HHS' Bioterrorism Training and Curriculum Development Program. Today's grantees are in 23 states. "Our health care professionals need to be prepared for the special demands that a bioterrorism attack could make on them and on our health care system," Secretary Thompson said. "This new program is an important part of our broader efforts to prepare our public health system, develop effective medical countermeasures and stand ready to respond if bioterrorism should strike." The program includes two components: continuing education for health professionals, funded at $22,344,500, and curriculum development in health professions schools, funded at $4,221,541. It is designed to provide bioterrorism-related continuing education and training opportunities for practicing health care providers and support new emergency preparedness curricula in health professions schools. The program will provide for training of at least 38,000 health professionals to better respond to an emergency. The new program is part of a total federal investment of $4.4 billion in fiscal year 2003 for bioterrorism preparedness. It is administered by HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which also funds other health professions programs. "We view these grants as a vital extension of our mission to ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality health care," said Elizabeth M. Duke, Ph.D., HRSA administrator. "In the case of bioterrorism, it is even more urgent that our health professions workforce be prepared to treat all of our citizens, wherever they reside." The Bioterrorism Training and Curriculum Development Program was created with the passage of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. More information is available at http://www.hrsa.gov/bioterrorism.htm. Lists of grant recipients follows:
### Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news. Last Revised: September 12, 2003 |